Channel indicator for televisions



June 22, 1:954 E. J. POLLEY CHANNEL INDICATOR EOE TELEVISIONS- FiledDec. l2, 1952 mmf 4 Nm o N N G Dl m I n T F mm Wl, M M la 1 A m m 2 w iPatented June 22, 1954 UNITED CHANNEL INDICATOR EOR TELEVISIONS EugeneJ. Polley, Lombard, Ill., assignor to Zenith Radio Corporation, acorporation of Illinois Application December 12, 1952, Serial No.325,596

6 Claims.

This invention pertains to a frequency-channel indicator for aWave-signal receiver and is particularly concerned with an indicatorwhich presents a relatively large visual indication of the frequency towhich the receiver is tuned. The indicator is especially valuable whenemployed in conjunction with a television receiver and will be describedin that connection.

At the present time, most television receivers are conditioned for thereception of video signals by means of a tuning device actuated by oneor more tuning knobs. The original allocations of frequency bands orchannels limited the portion of the spectrum available for televisionbroadcasting to twelve channels distributed in two separated sections ofwhat has come to be known as the Very High Frequency band, extendingfrom 54 to 216 megacycles per second, Consequently, the control knob formost television receivers is provided with a series of peripheralindicia which, in conjunction with a stationary marker, indicate thechannel to which the receiver is tuned. Space limitations on knobs ofthis type preclude the use of numerals or other indicia of relativelylarge size; in practice, the markings are generally restricted tonumerals one-quarter inch or less in height. However, completeutilization of the entertainment value of a television broadcast, asreproduced by modern large-screen receivers, requires that the observerbe stationed a considerable distance from the image screen, usuallyeight to ten feet or more. At such a distance, it becomes exceedinglydiiiicult to read the knob markings to ascertain the frequency-channelto which the receiver is attuned.

The allocation of an additional 69 channels for television broadcastingpurposes, located in an entirely different portion of the frequencyspectrum, between 480 and 890 mcs., has further complicated matters byincreasing the number of possible markings from 12 to 8l. Furthermore,with those tuning devices of the type known to the art as turret tuners,it is possible that adjustment of the control knob of the tuning device,from channel to channel may be totally unre=l lated to the normalsequence of the channel numbers, so that a single xed indicator markingsystem is both cumbersome and diicult to read. It is an object of thisinvention to provide an improved frequency-channel indicator for j awave-signal receiver which presents va visual indication of thefrequency-receptive conditioning of the receiver and which isconsiderably larger than that of the prior art arrangements.4 Y It is afurther object of this invention to provide a frequency-channelindicator including provision for rapid and expedient alteration of thesequence and positioning of its primary indicating elements.

It is a corollary object of this invention to provide afrequency-channel indicator for a tele- Vision receiver which is readilyvisible even in a darkened room and which can be seen from aconsiderable distance.

It is a corollary object of this invention to provide afrequency-channel indicator for a wavesignal receiver which is simpleand expedient to assemble and economical to manufacture.

A frequency-channel indicator for a wavesignal receiver including acabinet and a frequency-selective tuning device comprises, in accordancewith the invention, a tuning knob including a hollow, substantiallycylindrical body section. A rst end-closure section is affixed to oneend of the body section and includes a translucent screen area. A secondend-closure section is aiiixed to another end of the body section andincludes a plurality oi light transparent portions arranged in apredetermined pattern about the central axis thereof. Each of thetransparent portions is individually shaped to designate a particularWave-signal frequency-channel corresponding to a given operatingcondition of the tuning device. The indicator further includes means formechanically linking the tuning knob to the tuning device to eiiectadjustment of the tuning device in response to rotation of the knob. Alight source is also incorporated in the indicator and is mounted withinthe receiver cabinet and is positioned to project light through aselected one of the light transparent portions to form an image thereofon the translucent screen area.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The organization andmanner of the operation of the invention itself, together with furtherobjects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference tothe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view, partially schematic, of oneembodiment oi the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view oi the apparatus of Figure 1 taken alongline 2 2;

Figure 3 is a front View of the channel indicator of. Figure 1 takenalong line .iw-3;

Figure 4 is a sectional view, partially schematic,

of anotherernbodiment of the invention; and

3 matic, of an additional embodiment of the invention.

The frequency-channel indicator illustrated in Figure l is mounted onthe cabinet of a waven signal receiver; only a small portion of one wallZD of the cabinet is shown. inasmuch as the invention itself is notconcerned with the operative electrical circuits of the receiver, mostof these have been omitted from the drawing. The receiver includes atuning device il which may be of any suitable type such as a turrettuner, a continuous tuner, or a detented or preset con tinuous tuner,all of, which are in common use in the television field. A mechanicallinkage means is connected to the tuning device to permit control of itsoperation from a position external to the cabinet. In the embodimentshown, this mechanical linkage is provided by a shaft l2 ex tending atleast partially through an opening in cabinet wall i0. All of theabove-noted elements may assume any of the various forms known in theart without affecting the operation or utility of the channel indicator.

The indicator itself includes a tuning knob I5 comprising a hollowsubstantially circular body section It which may be formed from a moldedresinous plastic material, Lucite, or any other suitable material. Theterm cylindrical, as used throughout this specification and in theappended claims, refers primarily 'to any geometrical configurationsubstantially symmetrical with respect to a central and is intended toinclude structures which, in cross section, appear as squares, hexagone,or other polygons as well as the circular sections illustrated. A firstclosure section I1 is affixed to one end of cylinder it by any desiredmeans; in the embodiment shown, section Il is snapped into an annulargroove it formed in the cylinder wall. At least a portion of section ilmust be translucent in nature, as will be more completely explainedhereinafter; preferably, the complete section is formed from atranslucent material, such as rough-finished or stippled Lucite, andthus denes a translucent screen area. A wall 2i! closes the end ofcylinder I6 opposite section and, in part, may be formed integrally withthe cylinder wall as shown. Wall 2li includes a plurality oflight-transparent por tions, here shown as apertures 2l, arranged in anannular pattern about the central axis 22 of cylinder iii. If preferred,apertures 2I may be replaced by a substantially continuous trans parentsection centered about axis 22.

As more clearly seen in Figure 2, a plurality of masking elements 2t arereplaceably mounted adjacent to wall and re arranged in a predeterminedpattern about axis 22. Each of the mask ing elements includes a lighttransparent portion or area 2li individually shaped or otherwise bearingindicia to designate a particular wave-signal frequency-)channelcorresponding to a given operating condition of tuning device l i; inthe embodiment shown, channel ve of the V. l-l. F. tele vision band isillustrated. An alternative form. for masking element 2li is indicatedby element M', in which the transparent and opaque parts of the indiciaportion are transposed and are shown as area 25. It will be apparentthat elements 2t may be replaced by a single masking element or ringincorporating a plurality of individually shaped transparent areas suchas portion 25 arranged in a predetermined pattern about axis 22. Maskingelements 2li may be formed from any suitable opaque material with lighttransparent areas 25 out away, or, if preferred, may be pro duced byphotographic or printing processes. The masking elements are ainxed towall 2t in any suitable manner as by adhesive fixation to the Wall,frictional coupling to cylinder l5, or, as shown, by snapping into anannular groove 21 formed at the external junction of wall 20 andcylinder I6 (Figure 1). Wall 20 and masking elements 2d, considered as aunit, form a second closure section 28 for tuning knob I5.

The central portion 3i of wall 20' extends through opening I3 in cabinetwall I 0 and is provided with a recess 29 to permit a mechanicalconnection between knob I5 and shaft I2. A rigid mechanical connectionmay be assured by use of any suitable means, such as set screw 30.Cabinet wall I0 is provided with a second opening 32 which, for theembodiment under consideration, is in general alignment with one of theopenings 25 in the masking element. A light source 33 is mounted withinthe cabinet behind opening 32 and is coupled to a suitable source ofelectrical energy, not shown. In this embodiment, source 33 is asubstantially single-point light source such as a prefocused flashlightbulb or a relatively small light bulb of any type which has a filamentsufficiently small to simulate a single point.

In operation, adjustment of tuning device I I to condition thewave-signal receiver to a particular frequency-channel is effected byrotation of knob I5, which in turn causes rotation of shaft I2 andvaries the setting of the tuning device. For the particular operatingcondition illustrated the receiver is assumed to be tuned to televisionchannel five. Light from source 33, indicated by dash lines 34, isprojected through cabinet opening 32 and transparent area 25 andimpinges upon the translucent screen formed by closure section il. As aresultan image having a shape corresponding to that of channeldesignation area 25 is formed on the screen and, to an observer, knob i5presents the appearance shown in Figure 3. As seen therein, a largeluminous figure ve is seen against a dark or substantially unilluminatedbackground area 35. It is preferred that this image ll mostof the areaof screen Il, which, in the normal instance, will be at least one inchin diameter. The image thus formed is readily recognizable by an averageobserver at a considerable distance and is clearly cognizable at thenormal distances separating an observer from a television receiver. Inaddition, the lighted or luminous nature of the indication serves tomake it readable even though the surrounding room area may be darkened.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 is in most respects similar tothat of Figure l. Here, body section IE is formed in two parts, ita andIb. Cylinder part Ida is formed integrally with closure section Il yandis preferably made from rough-finished I ucite or some similartranslucent material. Part IEb is formed as an integral portion ofclosure wall 2Q and is also, in the preferu able form, made from amaterial such as Lucite. In this embodiment, apertures 2| are replacedby a plurality of convex lenses 40 which may be molded and iinished asan integral part of wall` 2D. In addition, light source 33 is replacedby an unfocused light source 4I and a converging lens d2 interposedbetween the light source and masking element 24.

The operation of the embodiment of Figure 4 is substantiallyidenticalwith that of Figure l in all major respects. Light emanatingfrom source 4I is converged by lens 42 and is passed through opening 32,transparent portion 25, and lens 40 to impinge upon screen Il. After thelight traverses indicia area 25 it is directed by lens 4U to cover asubstantial portion of the screen area. Use of lenses 4E and 42 providesfor more precise control of the denition of the outlines of the imageformed on screen l1 and also permits use of an unfocused light source.

The embodiment of Figure 5 is also quite similar in most respects to theindicators shown in Figures 1 and 4. In this embodiment, divergence ofthe light emanating from source lil is accomplished by a pair of concavelenses ill and 45; as in Figure 4, these lenses are preferably formed asan integral part of wall 2G. lnsofar as the eiect upon an observer isconcerned, this embodiment is virtually identical with those of Figures1 and 4.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it is apparent that changes and modiiications may be madewithout departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The aim ofthe appended claims, therefore, is to cover a-ll such changes andmodications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A frequency-channel indicator lfor a Wavesignal receiver including acabinet and a frequency-selective tuning device, said indicatorcomprising: a tuning knob including a hollow, substantially cylindricalbody section; a rst closure section aflixed to one end of said bodysection and including a translucent screen area; a second closuresection affixed to the opposite end of said body section and including aplurality of light transparent portions arranged in a predeterminedpattern about the central axis of said body section, each of saidportions being individually shaped to designate a particular Wave-signalfrequency-channel corresponding to a given operating condition of saidtuning device; means for mechanically linking said tuning knob to saidtuning device to effect adjustment of said tuning device in response torotation of said knob; and a light source mounted within said cabinetand positioned to project light through a selected one of said lighttransparent portions to form an image thereof on said 'translucentscreen area.

2. A frequency-channel indicator for a Wavesignal receiver including acabinet and a frefluency-selective tuning device, said indicatorcomprising: a tuning knob including a hollow, substantially cylindricalbody section; a rst closure section anixed to one end of said bodysection and including a translucent screen area; a second closuresection aixed to the opposite end of said body section and including aplurality of light transparent portions arranged in a predeterminedpattern about the central axis of said body section, each of saidportions being individually shaped to designate a particular wave-signalfrequency-channel corresponding to a given operating condition of saidtuning device; means for mechanically linking said tuning knob to saidtuning device to effect adjustment of said tuning device in response torotation of said knob; and a substantially singlepoint light sourcemounted within said cabinet and positioned to project light through aselected one of said light transparent portions to form an image thereofon said translucent screen area.

3. A frequency-channel indicator foi` a Wavesignal receiver including acabinet and a frequency-selective tuning device, said indicatorcomprising: a tuning knob including a hollow, substantially cylindricalbody section; a first closure section aflixed to one end of said bodysection and including a translucent screen area; a second closuresection, aixed to the opposite end of said body section, comprising alight transparent area substantially encircling the central axis of saidbody section and a masking element including a plurality oflight-transparent portions arranged in a predetermined pattern aboutsaid central axis, said portions being individually shaped to designatea particular Wavesignal frequency-channel corresponding to a givenoperating condition of said tuning device; means for mechanicallylinking said tuning knob to said tuning device to effect adjustment ofsaid tuning device in response to rotation of said knob; and a lightsource mounted within said cabinet and positioned to project lightthrough a selected one of said light transparent portions to form animage thereof on said translucent screen area.

4e. A frequency-channel indicator for a wavesignal receiver including acabinet and a frequency-selective tuning device, said indicatorcomprising: a tuning knob including a hollow, substantially cylindricalbody section; a rst closure section affixed to one end of said bodysection and including a translucent screen area; a second closuresection, affixed to the opposite end of said body section, comprising alight transparent area substantially encircling the central axis of saidbody section and a plurality of masking elements arranged in apredetermined pattern about said central axis, each of said maskingelements including a light-transparent portion individually shaped todesignate a particular Wave-signal frequency-channel corresponding to agiven operating condition of said tuning device; means for mechanicallylinking said tuning knob to said tuning device to effect adjustment ofsaid tuning device in response to rotation of said knob; and a lightclosure section aiiixed to one end of said body section and including atranslucent screen area; a second closure section, affixed to theopposite end of said body section, comprising a plurality of lensesarranged in a predetermined pattern about the central axis of said bodysection and a masking structure including a corresponding plurality oflight-transparent portions individually aligned with said lenses andindividually shaped to designate a particular wave-signalfrequency-channel corresponding to a given operating condition of saidtuning device; means for mechanically linking said tuning knob to saidtuning device to eifeot adjustment of said tuning device in response torotation of said knob; and a light source mounted with said cabinet andpositioned to project light through a selected one of said lighttransparent portions to form an image thereof on said translucent screenarea.

6. A frequency-channel indicator for a wavesignal receiver including acabinet and a frebody section and a masking structure including 10 acorresponding plurality of light-transparent portions individuallyaligned with said pairs of lenses and individually shaped to designate aparticular Wave-signal frequency-channel corresponding to a givenoperating condition of 15 said tuning device; means for mechanicallylinking said tuning knob to said tuning device to eiect adjustment ofsaid tuning device in re-` sponse to rotation of said knob; and a lightsource mounted within said cabinet and positioned to project lightthrough a selected one of said light transparent portions to form animage thereof on said translucent screen area.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,090,086 Weiner Aug. 1'7, 1937 2,334,479 Creager Nov. 16,1943 2,619,932 Brewster v Dec. 2, 1952

